Electrode-plate for storage batteries



L. LYNDON. ELECTRODE PLATE FOR STORAGE BATTERIES. APPLICATION FILED APR.30, 1919.

1,390,629. Patented Sept. 13,1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAMAR LYNDON, WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO EDISON STORAGEBATTERY COMPANY, OF WEST ORANGE, 'NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

ELECTRODE-PLATE FOR STORAGE BATTERIES.

Specification 0f Lettel'slfltent- Patented Sept. 13, 1921.

Application filed April 30, 1919. Serial No. 293,793.

To all whom it may concern Be it known-that l, LAMAR LYNDON, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Vest Orange, Essex county, NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectrode-Plates for Storage Batteries, of which the following is a descri Jtion.-

by invention relates to electrode plates for storage batteries, and isespecially directed to an improved torm ot negative element or electrodeplate for batteries of the Edison type wherein an alkaline Q.l8(tl'()lyte is employed and in which the positive elements contain flake nickeland nickel hydroxid and the negative elements contain electrolyticallyactive finely divided iron or oxid of iron. i

In batteries of the Edison type as now made, the negative elements orelectrodes comprise connniratively heavy apertnred grids formed ofnickel. plated sheet steel. and a plurality ot'itiat pockets containingfinely divided iron or oxid of iron respectively mounted in theapertures o'tsuch grids. These pockets are each made up oi. twosubstantially rectangular telescoping sections formed of very thinperforated nickel-plated steel, which, after being filled with theactive material, that is, the iron or iron oxid, are placed in theopenings or apertures of the grid and then subjected to great pressureto torce the active material, into intimate contact with the alls of thepockets and the pockets into contact and clamping engagement with thewalls of the grid openings. The contact thus formed be tween the pocketsand the grids is indeter' minate and varies considerably in ditlerentelectrode plates and with individual pockets in the same plate, and thediilerences in ca p acity in Edison cells which are identical in size,construction V and materials are largely due to this varying contact.

The principal objects oi? my invention are to provide an lll'lpl'OVfitl.l"orrn.,ol negative electrode plate wherein the foregoing objeo tionwill be obviated,and which is much more simple and economical tomanufacture than Other objects and features oi my inven tion will behereinafter more specifically described and claimed. i

In order that my invention may be more clearly ul'lderstood, attentionis directed to the drawing accompanying and formin partof thisspecification, and in which: 23

1* igure 1 is a viewin side elevation of a partially completed electrodeplate in ac cordance with my invention, the series of pockets of theright half of the plate being shown unloaded and with their outer endsopen, and the series of pockets of the left half of the plate beingshown filled with active material and with their outer ends closed;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the electrode plate element shown in Fig.1 looking from the right; i

Fig. 3 a side elevation of the reinforcing or strengthening gridcomprising a part of my improved electrode plate;

Fig. 4: is a view in side elevation of the completed electrode plate;and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line of Fig. at.

Referring especially to Figs. 1 and 2, the partially completedl'legative electrode plate element shown therein consists of a pair ofsimilar and substantially rectangular sheets 1., 1, each of the samewidth and, length as the finished electrode plate. Each of the sheets 1,1 is provided with two similar series of equi-spaced horizontal equalsized rectangular grooves or pocket sections 2.. horizontal tlat ribsbetween the grooves or pocket sections and at the top and bottom of thesheet above and below the grooves or pocket sections, and a centralvertical flat rib between the two series of pocket sectionsyall ot whichribs are in a common plane. The grooves or pocket sections 2 may betermed in each of the sheets i, 1 either by rolling or in a press; it byrolling, the rolls are n'uitilatcd to produce the ribs, while it in apresto the dies are shaped to term the ribs. 'llhe two series of groovesor pocket sections as termed in each sheet 1 respectiily extend edges o:the sheet jitter torming' the pocket sections 2 thereim the two sheetsll l. are suitably secured together, as by weld ing the torrespondingribs thereof together, with the said pocltet sections respectively tothe opposite side registering, whereby the plate element so formed isprovided with two vertical series of horizontal integral pockets 3, 3.The outer ends of these two series of pockets will now be respectivelyopen at the opposite side edges of the plate element, ass'hown in Fig.2, and at the 'right-hand side of Fig. 1. The plate element is nowplaced in-a suitable clamp or holderv so that the latter will hold theplate member in a vertical position with the ends of one series ofpockets uppermost-,and the pockets of such series are then loaded withsuitable active material, such-as finely divided electrolytically activeiron or oxid of'iron, in the usual manner.

-The end portions of the loaded series of of a suitable crimpingattachment with which the said clamp or holder may be provided. Theplate member, which will now have one series of completely closed,loaded pockets and one series of openended unloaded pockets, as shown inFig. 1, is then reversed in the clamp or holder, that is, it is mountedin the holder in a vertical position and so-that the openends of theunloaded series of pockets willbe uppermost, and the latter series ofpockets are then loaded and closed at their ends in the same manner asthe first series of pockets.

The entire sides or faces of all the pockets 3, 3 are provided with.very small and closely adjacent perforations, as in the case of theusual form of negative pockets employed in Edison batteries. Theseperforations may be made at the same time as the grooves or I pocketsections 2 are formed in the sheets 1,

1, that is, the grooving and perforating steps may be performedsimultaneously; or the perforating may be performed as a separate stepeither before or after the grooving of the sheets. Preferably, however,the faces of the pockets are perforated after the pockets are loaded, asthis greatly increases and improves the contact between the activematerial and the plate element and also adds which purpose I employ thegrid 4 shown in Fig. 3. This grid is of the same width and length as thesheets 1 and 2 and is formed, as by stamping, with" two vertical seriesof rectangular horizontal openings 5 corresponding to the series ofpockets 3 and only slightly larger than said pockets, whereby the gridwill be formed with ribs corresponding to the ribs at the edge portionsof: the plate member or element, and between the pockets 3 of such plateelement. The

grid at is relatively thick and strong and as in the case of the sheets1, 1, is preferably made of nickel-plated sheet steel, both the grid andthe sheets 1, 1 therefor being in active and insolublein an alkalineelectrolyte.

The grid 4 is now placed against one side of the plate element, so thatthe openings 5 take over the pockets 3 thereof and the ribs of the gridlie against the corresponding ribs of the plate element, and is thensuitably secured to the latter as by welding the said ribs together. Thestructure thus formed is then placed in a hydraulic press where thepockets 3 are subjected to a great pressure to com-- press the same andthe active material therein and to force such material into intimatecontact with the walls of the pockets. T he electrode plate is nowcomplete, being of the form shown in Fig. 4, and ready for use in acell, the grid 41 thereof being provided able the plate to be properlymounted and electrically connected with similar plates in the cell.

In connecting the sheets 1., 1, and the plate element thus formed withthe grid 4, the ribs of these members may be secured together either byspot welding or by continuous welding, preferably the latter, in whichcase these flat sheets or members are passed between two currentcarrying rollers.

- My improved electrode plate is much less expensive to make than thepresent form of negative plate employed in Edison cells. In the firstplace, the thin narrow steel strips or ribbonsfrom which the individualpockets of the present type of plate are formed cost more per pound thanthe sheet metal from which thesheets 1, 1 of my improved plate areformed; and in the second place the manufacturing operations are greatlysimplified and chcapened, as the forming of a plurality of pockets insheets such as the sheets 1, 1 and the perforating of the faces of suchpockets may be done much more cheaply. and quickly than the stamping ofindividual pockets and the perforating of narrow strips or ribbons; andfurthermore, the manually performed steps of assembling pockets, placingindividual pockets in loading clamps, and assembling the loaded POClCrets in grids are entirely eliminated.

Electrically, my improved electrode plate is much superior to thepresent form of negative plate employed in Edison cells. because theactive material is directly held in contact with integral parts of theplate and ill] with an apertured lug or projection G to enhence there isno loss or variance in capacity due to improper and varying contact between individual pockets and grids carrying the same. This superiorityis especially marked at high rates of discharge.

.lt may sometimes be deirable to have the pockets disposed vertically.and in such cases plate elements consisting of two connected sheets suchas the sheets 1. l with two horizontal series of loaded vertical pocketsmay be made up in units in the manner described herein, and one, two orany number of such units spot-welded to a grid to form an electrodeplate of any size and capacity desired.

"hile, my invention is particularly directed to an improved form ofnegative electrode plate for Edison storage batteries, it is to beunderstood that the same is adaptable to batteries of other types andthat it may also be utilized for the positive electrodes. It is also tobe understood that the specific t'orm of electrode plate shown anddescribed herein as well as the method ot making the same. are subjectto numerous changes and mmlifications without depan tnre from the spiritoi the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is as follows 1. An electrode plate forstorage batteries. comprising a pair of thin sheets connected togetherand provided with integrally formed opposed registering pocket sections,whereby the plate element so formed is provided with a plurality ofpockets for the active material, and an apertured grid rigidly securedto said sheets with the openings thereof respectively taking over saidpockets, substantially as described.

2. An electrode plate for storage batteries, comprising a pair ofconnected thin metallic sheets, a plurality of perforated pockets eachconsisting of two sections respectively formed integrally with saidsheets, and an apertured grid rigidly secured to said sheets with theopenings thereof respectively taking over said pockets, substantially asdescribed.

3. An electrode plat-e element for storage batteries employing analkaline electrolyte,

of respectively registering so as to form aplurality of pockets, saidpockets containing active material, and an apertured grid rigidlysecured to said sheets with the openings thereof respectively takingover said pockets, substantially as described.

In an electrode plate for storage batteries, a plate element comprisinga pair of similar sheets provided with projecting pocket sections andwith ribs located in a con'nnon plane disposed between said sections,said sheets being disposed with the corresponding ribs thereot inengagement and with the pocket sections thereof respectively opposed toand registering with each other, and a grid formed with openings andribs corresponding respectively to the pocket sections and ribs o't saidsheets, said grid being disposed against said element with the openingsthereof respectively taking over the pocket sections of one at saidsheets and the ribs thereot' respectively engaging the correspondingribs of said sheet, some at least of the corresponi'ling ribs of saidsheets and grid being rigidly secured together, substan tially asdescribed.

This specification signed this 22nd. day of April, 1919. LAMAR LYN DON.

